The news that David Rehr was leaving the NAB came as a surprise to everyone. Granted, you don’t let anyone peak at the hand you want to play.

I met Rehr on several occasions. I’ll give him credit for the direction of the NAB over the past 3.5 years. He is something of a showman, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. He likes to talk to an audience with a wireless lavaliere and without a podium. He speaks with passion about whatever the topic is. I have watched him at receptions making the rounds where he has to repeat the same message 30 times to different small groups, but each time he has the same enthusiasm in his voice.

The NAB has had some interesting battles during his term. Some have been lost (satellite radio merger, which was a losing battle from the start despite the NAB’s huge fuss over it). Some are still be fought (terrestrial radio performance fees). In general, I think Rehr has been effective at bringing the NAB into a more current view of broadcasting and its part of the current electronic media state.

There’s no word yet on what Rehr is going to do next.